LAKE TAHOE has been on my list of destinations to visit for quite some time and it seemed like the perfect opportunity to celebrate my 30th birthday with an amazing group of friends. Thanks to some thorough digging on AirBnb, we discovered the perfect rustic cabin in Carnielian Bay located on the northwest side of the lake. Lake Tahoe is situated approximately 7-8 hours north of Los Angeles via car, the drive along the Eastern Sierras on the 395 is absolutely stunning and full of ample sights to make this drive the perfect road trip.

Researching some great locations along the drive up to Lake Tahoe was just as exciting as planning the destination itself. A quick stop along our journey was MONO LAKE, which is one of the oldest lakes in the western hemisphere surrounded by volcanoes and eerie ghost towns. Luckily, this was a suggestion recommended to me by my good friend Michal of The Soulitude Dude, so we made sure to include this historical landmark as a stop during our scenic road trip up to our cabin. Once we arrived, we were all shocked with how peacefulMono Lake appeared and decided to relax next to the shore along with taking in the sights of the serene turquoise water glistening in the sunlight while we ate our lightly packed lunches.

Also, if you're heading to Lake Tahoe along the 395 and passing through Bishop, a perfect opportunity to try a delicious cup of COFFEE would be at the quaint, yet lively Black Sheep Espresso Bar. Their coffee is astounding along with having some of the best sandwich options to enjoy during your visit.

Though we didn't camp during this adventure, the CABIN we all fell in love with over our stay in Carnelian Bay was perfect in every way, shape, and form. It was recently remodeled and included all the rustic modern charm one would hope for in a cabin. Faux fur blankets, vintage memorabilia scattered around, Edison bulbs, and exposed wood beams throughout made this cabin the perfect home away from home nestled away in the trees over looking the lake.

Another plus side to the cabin was the convenience to all the sights and local spots we could access easily from the neighborhood. The small village of Tahoe Vista and King's Beach have all the necessary amenities you'd need ranging from grocery stores to relaxing beaches to enjoy in the summer heat.

We also took the opportunity to kayak and stand up paddle board along the shore in AGATE BAY by renting our gear from Tahoe Paddle and Oarafter we stopped for a refreshing iced coffees at The Java Hut. The group was hilarious and the time we spent cruising around the bay while periodically diving into the frigid water was definitely a much-needed activity during the 90+ degree temperatures we were experiencing during our stay.

Instagram is definitely one of my favorite ways of finding new adventures and a perfect example was me stumbling upon Adventure Culture'spage who featured a stunning photo of SAND HARBOR STATE BEACH by the very talented photographer @everchanginghorizon. Sand Harbor, located on the east side of the lake in the Nevada state line, is home to large boulders and sublime, cobalt blue waters offering a tranquil retreat for boulder jumping and swimming.

We made a full day out of our visit to Sand Harbor and opted to avoid paying the fees by parking a few hundred yards south of the park entrance along the 28 before we made a pretty steep decent to the shoreline near Bonsai Rock. The tide pools were quite deep, which gave ample opportunities for jumping into the lake from the various rock formations and endless shoreline for us to explore.

PRO-TIP: Definitely consider bringing an extra pair of hiking shoes for the climb, up and down, to Bonsai Rock or any other areas south of the Sand Harbor entrance. Your feet will be grateful you did.

Have you been to Lake Tahoe? If so, share your tips and/or suggestions below in the comments section.